I have been looking into what it means to be Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD that are Christ Centered, as they are part of the Mysteries (power and greatness) of GOD. With todays post I am beginning a new area of interest. Keeping in mind that GOD is the GOD of Promise. As I talk to people along life's busy highways, I have discovered that there are not many who understand or even believe that man is a spiritual being housed within an earthen body of clay. It has been my goal to bring to light this all important Truth of GOD and the Bible, GOD's book of guidance and instruction for those who acquire His light through Christ. One such person was king David which Pastor Hoekstra will being looking at in his teaching on Grace. Which I will share with the led of the LORD in it and my subject matter for a short time. I will use the ESV translation in my course and field of study.
"David Confessing God as His Strength"
"The LORD is the strength of my life . . . The LORD is . . . my strength, in whom I will trust." (Psalm 27:1 and Psalm 18:2)
"Living by Grace involves depending upon GOD to work in our lives. For the greater part of his life, David was an outstanding Old Testament example of such living. This was certainly evident in the way David frequently confessed the LORD as his strength.
For each adult who lives in this fallen world, spiritual strength is demanded just to deal with every day responsibilities and challenges. When you add the calling and desire that believers have to please and honor GOD, much strength is needed day by day. David confessed the LORD as his strength for living. "The LORD is the strength of my life." How wonderful to know that the LORD is with us to impart His strength in us for every aspect of our lives, whether home, or work, or ministry, or whatever.
In our earthly pilgrimage, we need strength to stay on course. The world, the flesh, and the devil the prince of darkness and lawlessness wants to prevent us from progressing down the LORD's perfect path. David found in the LORD the strength for this need as well. "It is GOD Who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect" (Psalm 18:32). At times, when walking along our designated path of life, we get trapped in circumstantial nets, allowed by GOD, but laid by the enemy of our souls. When David experienced these traps and snares, he turned and cried out to GOD for the necessary strength. "Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength" (Psalm 31:4). At other times along our path, the problem is not a trap or snare, but an all-out battle. Once again, David found the strength he needed in His Lord. "For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me" (Psalm 18:39).
Sometimes, the need for strength pertains to what is going on within (or flowing forth from within). The thoughts we are thinking, and the words we are expressing might need to be anchored again in the Will of the LORD. David also knew how to turn to GOD for this essential strength as well. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). When he weakened within and stumbled in failure, David still knew where to turn for the only help that will ever prove sufficient. "My flesh and my heart fail; But GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26). Whatever the need for strength, David learned to rely upon the LORD. "The LORD is . . . my strength, in Whom I will trust."
Some general references to Spiritual Richness,
Enduring,
Proverbs 8:12-21 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries."
GOD's Blessing the Source of,
Proverbs 10:20-27 "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short."
A Paradox,
Proverbs 13:6-14 "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death."
Discovered by Spiritual Vision,
Ephesians 1:15-23 "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (true believers), I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that HE worked in Christ when HE raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this Age but also in the one to come. HE putting all things in subjection under His feet and appointed Him as head over all things to His Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all."
Unsearchable,
Ephesians 3:1-13 "For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of GOD's Grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His Holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through His Gospel. This gospel I was made a minister according to the Gift of GOD's Grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this Grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for prior Ages in GOD Who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of GOD might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that HE has realized in Christ Jesus our LORD, in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
More Precious than Earthly,
Hebrews 11:23-29 "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him Who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned."
The Inheritance of GOD's Elect,
James 2:1-7 "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the LORD of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not GOD chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which HE has promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?"
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